734 research outputs found
Understanding peace through the world news
Peace is a principal dimension of well-being and is the way out of inequity and violence. Thus, its measurement has drawn the attention of researchers, policymakers, and peacekeepers. During the last years, novel digital data streams have drastically changed the research in this field. The current study exploits information extracted from a new digital database called Global Data on Events, Location, and Tone (GDELT) to capture peace through the Global Peace Index (GPI). Applying predictive machine learning models, we demonstrate that news media attention from GDELT can be used as a proxy for measuring GPI at a monthly level. Additionally, we use explainable AI techniques to obtain the most important variables that drive the predictions. This analysis highlights each countryâs profile and provides explanations for the predictions, and particularly for the errors and the events that drive these errors. We believe that digital data exploited by researchers, policymakers, and peacekeepers, with data science tools as powerful as machine learning, could contribute to maximizing the societal benefits and minimizing the risks to peace.Peace is a principal dimension of well-being and is the way out of inequity and violence. Thus, its measurement has drawn the attention of researchers, policymakers, and peacekeepers. During the last years, novel digital data streams have drastically changed the research in this field. The current study exploits information extracted from a new digital database called Global Data on Events, Location, and Tone (GDELT) to capture peace through the Global Peace Index (GPI). Applying predictive machine learning models, we demonstrate that news media attention from GDELT can be used as a proxy for measuring GPI at a monthly level. Additionally, we use explainable AI techniques to obtain the most important variables that drive the predictions. This analysis highlights each countryâs profile and provides explanations for the predictions, and particularly for the errors and the events that drive these errors. We believe that digital data exploited by researchers, policymakers, and peacekeepers, with data science tools as powerful as machine learning, could contribute to maximizing the societal benefits and minimizing the risks to peace
New constraints for heavy axion-like particles from supernovae
We derive new constraints on the coupling of heavy pseudoscalar (axion-like)
particles to photons, based on the gamma ray flux expected from the decay of
these particles into photons. After being produced in the supernova core, these
heavy axion-like particles would escape and a fraction of them would decay into
photons before reaching the Earth. We have calculated the expected flux on
Earth of these photons from the supernovae SN 1987A and Cassiopeia A and
compared our results to data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope. This analysis
provides strong constraints on the parameter space for axion-like particles.
For a particle mass of 100 MeV, we find that the Peccei-Quinn constant, f_a,
must be greater than about 10^{15} GeV. Alternatively, for fa=10^{12} GeV, we
exclude the mass region between approximately 100 eV and 1 GeV.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures. Version published in JCAP. Major changes in the
exposition. Added a figure. Added appendix. Minor changes in the results.
Some changes in the bibliograph
MOBILITY ATLAS BOOKLET: AN URBAN DASHBOARD DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
Abstract. The new data sources give the possibility to answer analytically the questions that arise from mobility manager. The process of transforming raw data into knowledge is very complex, and it is necessary to provide metaphors of visualizations that are understandable to decision makers. Here, we propose an analytical platform that extracts information on the mobility of individuals from mobile phone by applying Data Mining methodologies. The main results highlighted here are both technical and methodological. First, communicating information through visual analytics techniques facilitates understanding of information to those who have no specific technical or domain knowledge. Secondly, the API system guarantees the ability to export aggregates according to the granularity required, enabling other actors to produce new services based on the extracted models. For the future, we expect to extend the platform by inserting other layers. For example, a layer for measuring the sustainability index of a territory, such as the ability of public transport to attract private mobility or the index that measures how many private vehicle trips can be converted into electrical mobility.</p
Evaluation of cephalometric, hormonal and enzymatic parameters in young obese subjects
Aim The aim of the present investigation was to
analyse cephalometric skeletal structures and hormonal
and enzymatic parameters in young obese subjects in
comparison with those of normal weight subjects.
Materials and methods The whole sample consisted
of 50 Caucasian patients (28 males and 22 females)
whose lateral radiographs, laboratory hormonal and
enzymatic analyses were already available. The test
group included 25 obese patients (11 females and 14
males, average age: 9.8 ± 2.11 years old), while the
control group included 25 normal weight subjects
matched for age and sex (11 females and 14 males, 9.9 ±
2.5 years old). Data were statistically analysed: Studentâs
t-test for independent samples was adopted and the
level of significance was set at: p< 0.05.
Results As regards cephalometric records, the anterior
cranial base length was significantly greater in the test
group (S-N: 69.9 ± 4 mm) compared to the controls
(S-N: 68.1 ± 2.7 mm). Moreover, the maxillary lenght
was higher in the test group (Pm-A: 48.5 ± 2.5 mm )
in comparison to the control group (Pm-A: 46.1 ± 1.9
mm). As regards skeletal class and vertical dimension,
no significant differences were found between the
two groups, with the exception of the intermaxillary
plane angle, which was significantly lower in the obese
subjects in comparison to the controls. Laboratory
analysis showed significant (p <0.05) higher levels of
leptin and insulin in the test group in comparison with
control subjects.
Furthermore, LH, FSH, IGF-1 values were significantly (p
<0.05) lower in the test group in comparison with the
control group.
Conclusion Obese subjects exhibited an increase of
some craniofacial parameters and alteration of some
laboratory parameters that may be involved in the
process of skeletal maturation, in comparison to normal
weight subjects. These findings may be of interest
in orthodontics, as young obese subjects may need a
different orthodontic treatment plan in comparison to
Evaluation normal weight subjects of the same age
Stellar evolution confronts axion models
Axion production from astrophysical bodies is a topic in continuous development, because of theoretical progress in the estimate of stellar emission rates and, especially, because of improved stellar observations. We carry out a comprehensive analysis of the most informative astrophysics data, revisiting the bounds on axion couplings to photons, nucleons and electrons, and reassessing the significance of various hints of anomalous stellar energy losses. We confront the performance of various theoretical constructions in accounting for these hints, while complying with the observational limits on axion couplings. We identify the most favorable models, and the regions in the mass/couplings parameter space which are preferred by the global fit. Finally, we scrutinize the discovery potential for such models at upcoming helioscopes, namely IAXO and its scaled versions
A Note on the Cosmic Evolution of the Axion in a Strong Magnetic Field
It has been pointed out in the literature that in the presence of an external
magnetic field the axion mass receives an electromagnetic contribution. We show
that if a magnetic field with energy density larger than ~10^{-8} times the
energy density of the Universe existed at temperatures of a few GeV, that
contribution would be dominant and consequently the cosmic evolution of the
axion field would change substantially. In particular, the expected axion relic
abundance would be lowered, allowing a small relaxation of the present
cosmological bound on the Peccei-Quinn constant.Comment: 2 pages, no figures. Minor changes. References added. Accepted for
publication in JCA
Magnetic Helicity Generation from the Cosmic Axion Field
The coupling between a primordial magnetic field and the cosmic axion field
generates a helical component of the magnetic field around the time in which
the axion starts to oscillate. If the energy density of the seed magnetic field
is comparable to the energy density of the universe at that time, then the
resulting magnetic helicity is about |H_B| \simeq (10^{-20} G)^2 kpc and
remains constant after its generation. As a corollary, we find that the
standard properties of the oscillating axion remain unchanged even in the
presence of very strong magnetic fields.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D. Minor
revisions and new references adde
Quercetin Reduces Lipid Accumulation in a Cell Model of NAFLD by Inhibiting De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis through the AcetylâCoA Carboxylase 1/AMPK/PP2A Axis
none6noDysregulation of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) has recently gained strong attention as being one of the critical factors that contribute to the assessment of nonâalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is often diagnosed in patients with dyslipidemias and type 2 diabetes; thus, an interesting correlation can be deduced between high hematic free fatty acids and glucose excess in the DNL dysregulation. In the present study, we report that, in a cellular model of NAFLD, the coexistence of elevated glucose and FFA conditions caused the highest cellular lipid accumulation. Deepening the molecular mechanisms of the DNL dysregulationâRTâqPCR and immunoblot analysis demonstrated increased expression of mitochondrial citrate carrier (CiC), cytosolic acetylâ CoA carboxylase 1 (ACACA), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) involved in fatty acids and triglycerides synthesis, respectively. XBPâ1, an endoplasmic reticulum stress marker, and SREBPâ1 were the transcription factors connected to the DNL activation. Quercetin (Que), a flavonoid with strong antioxidant properties, and noticeably reduced the lipid accumulation and the expression of SREBPâ1 and XBPâ1, as well as of their lipogenic gene targets in steatotic cells. The antiâlipogenic action of Que mainly occurs through a strong phosphorylation of ACACA, which catalyzes the committing step in the DNL pathway. The high level of ACACA phosphorylation in Queâtreated cells was explained by the intervention of AMPK together with the reduction of enzymatic activity of PP2A phosphatase. Overall, our findings highlight a direct antiâlipogenic effect of Que exerted through inhibition of the DNL pathway by acting on ACACA/AMPK/PP2A axis; thus, suggesting this flavonoid as a promising molecule for the NAFLD treatment.openGnoni A.; Di Chiara Stanca B.; Giannotti L.; Gnoni G.V.; Siculella L.; Damiano F.Gnoni, A.; Di Chiara Stanca, B.; Giannotti, L.; Gnoni, G. V.; Siculella, L.; Damiano, F
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